The Rams are winning the battle for Los Angeles versus the Chargers

The Rams are winning the battle for Los Angeles versus the Chargers

Los Angeles can definitely support two teams. The market is big enough, but, there is a bit of big brother, little brother dynamic in the city. The Lakers and the Clippers are the best example. Well, the Rams and Chargers could be trending that way which means the Chargers have a lot of pressure on them heading into 2018.

The Rams were welcomed to Los Angeles with open arms. The media continually asked why the Chargers were even moving here. Stan Kroenke is building the new football stadium in Inglewood and there’s a public perception that the Rams are the landlord while the Chargers are simply renters.

Add into that perception the fact that the Rams made the playoffs last year. They have exciting, young offensive players. They have the coach of the year., the best defensive player in the NFL, and Todd Gurley as a fantasy god and it’s tough to compete. The Rams are making it tougher.

The Rams just traded for two shutdown corners. They are building a dominant defense. They are going to head into the season as the favorite in the NFC West. There is a ton of buzz around the Rams. The Chargers have . . . well, they have a fun temporary stadium to watch football in.

The Chargers defense is young with stars on the defensive line. Phillip Rivers isn’t going to win young hearts with his good looks like Jared Goff, but at least he’s a solid franchise quarterback. Melvin Gordon is workman-like and a solid option in the backfield. Kennan Allen is dominant but still not talked about as a top of the league receiver. In short, there’s very little buzz with the Chargers.

And that is a huge problem. The Chargers are going to be in a tough spot if they don’t win this year. Young L.A. football fans will gravitate toward the Rams. That’s important for future success in the market. The last thing the Chargers can afford is to look like the Clippers to the Rams’ Lakers.

That puts the Chargers in a tough spot. Football teams shouldn’t try and make a splash for the sake of making a splash. That’s not how good teams win. Of course, football is also entertainment. Los Angeles is all about entertainment. Right now the Rams offseason is an Oscar worthy movie, and the Chargers offseason is some indie movie that doesn’t get much attention.

It’s almost unfair. The Rams have a ton of young talent on the cheap on the offensive side of the ball. They can make these moves. It doesn’t ruin their cap situation. It doesn’t hurt their future because they don’t have to pay Jared Goff or Todd Gurley like superstars yet. The time will come, but by then it could be too late for the Chargers. Allegiances will be drawn. The Clippers moniker will be dropped on them early and often.

So the Chargers are in a tough spot. They are currently losing the battle for Los Angeles. That’s not even close.

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